At the briefing on Thursday morning, 5 December, at 1 p.m., alongside the
Director of the Holy See Press Office, there participated Cardinal Sean Patrick
O’Malley, archbishop of Boston, member of the Council of Cardinals, who gave the
following Declaration:

"Continuing decisively along the lines undertaken by Pope Benedict
XVI, and accepting a proposal presented by the Council of Cardinals, the
Holy Father has decided to establish a specific Commission for the
protection of minors, with the aim of advising Pope Francis on the Holy
See’s commitment to the protection of children and in pastoral care for
victims of abuse. Specifically, the Commission will:

1. study present programmes in place for the protection of
children.

2. formulate suggestions for new initiatives on the part of the
Curia, in collaboration with bishops, Episcopal conferences, religious
superiors and conferences of religious superiors.

3. indicate the names of persons suited to the systematic
implementation of these new initiatives, including lay persons,
religious and priests with responsibilities for the safety of children,
in relations with the victims, in mental health, in the application of
the law, etc.

The composition and competences of the Commission will be indicated
shortly, with more details from the Holy Father in an appropriate document."

Cardinal O’Malley then quoted some of the lines of action proposed by the
Commission under constitution.

* * *

The meetings will conclude tomorrow afternoon, completing the review of the
different Congregations of the Roman Curia initiated during these recent days.

The next round of meetings is scheduled for the 17, 18 and 19 February,
preceding the Consistory of the College of Cardinals due to take place on the 20
and 21 of the same month, and the Consistory for the Creation of new cardinals
on 22 February, Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, and the solemn Concelebration
of Sunday 23.

In addition, the meeting of the Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops is scheduled
to take place in the days immediately after (24-25 February).